Binder

ABSTRACT

One or more sheet-holding units for holding together a number of sheets of any suitable material are removably secured between front and back covers. Each sheet-holding unit is composed of a spine portion and a pair of flap portions extending substantially parallel to each other from both sides of the spine portion. For interconnecting two or more sheet-holding units, a plurality of spaced-apart flanged bosses on the external surface of one of the flap portions of each unit are inserted into corresponding slots on the external surface of the other of the flap portions of the adjacent unit and are moved longitudinally of the slots to cause their flanges to be engaged by U-shaped seats provided to the slots. The front and back covers are provided with different adapter units having the flanged bosses and the slots, respectively, to mate with the slots and with the flanged bosses of the sheet-holding unit or units to be removably secured therebetween.

United States Patent 1191 Shibata 14 1 Oct. 30, 1973 BINDER [76] Inventor: Ryoji Shibata, 3-45, Higashi Takaai-Cho, I-Iigashi Sumiyoshi- Ku, Osaka, Japan 22 Filed: on. 10,1972

21 App1.No.:296,334

[52] US. Cl. 281/17 [51] Int. Cl 842d 3/04 [58] Field of Search 281/16, 17; 402/59, 402/DIG. 1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 758,220 4/1904 Sixbey 281/16 X 847,039 3/1907 Barlow..... 402/59 X 1,167,639 I/1916 Eifel i 402/59 2,127,619 8/1938 Rosenthal... 281/17 2,802,677 8/1957 Forsyth 281/16 3,260,264 7/1966 McKowen.... 402/DIG. 1 3,353,844 11/1967 Staats 281/17 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,170,755 11/1969 Great Britain 402/DIG. 1

Primary Examiner-Wm. H. Grieb Att0rneyBucknam & Archer [57] ABSTRACT One or more sheet-holding units for holding together a number of sheets of any suitable material are removably secured between front and back covers. Each sheet-holding unit is composed of a spine portion and a pair of flap portions extending substantially parallel to each other from both sides of the spine portion. For interconnecting two or more sheet-holding units, a plurality of spaced-apart flanged bosses on the external surface of one of the flap portions of each unit are inserted into corresponding slots on the external surface of the other of the flap portions of the adjacent unit and are moved longitudinally of the slots to cause their flanges to be engaged by U-shaped seats provided to the slots. The front and back covers are provided with different adapter units having the flanged bosses and the slots, respectively, to mate with the slots and with the flanged bosses of the sheet-holding unit or units to be removably secured therebetween.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented Get. 30, 1973 3,768,838

FIG.1

BINDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to binders, and in particular to a device wherein a number of sheets of paper or other suitable material are held together in separate sheet-holding units of identical construction and in which any appropriate number of these sheetholding units can be removably secured between front and back covers. TI-Ie device can find numerous applications such for example as an album, a scrapbook, a directory and so forth.

There have been known various types of binders for holding together a number of sheets or leaves in looseleaf form, such that the sheets can be released individually for removal, rearrangement, replacement and other purposes. However, as far as I am aware, there has been nonexistent any simple and inexpensive device in which the sheets are held together in separate groups, in such a manner that each group of of sheets are releasable altogether for the noted purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device of simple and inexpensive construction in which a number of sheets of paper or any other suitable material are held together in separate sheetholding units which can be easily interconnected and further secured between front and back covers in a readily detachable manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character referred to, in which any suitable number of the sheet-holding units, each holding a number of sheets together, can be easily secured between and removed from the front and back covers, either individually or altogether.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character referred to, in which the sheetholding units are of exactly the same construction and thus can be manufactured to the standardized specifications at greatly reduced costs.

The novel features which are considered characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, together with the various other objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example only, a preferred embodiment thereof, nd wherein like reference characters denote like parts throughout theseveral views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the internal surfaces of a sheet-holding unit in open position which is constructed in accordance with the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the external surfaces of the sheet-holding unit of FIG. 1 in open position; and

FIGS. 3A and 3B show, on an enlarged scale, the different cross sections of an example of the overall device according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The device according to this invention includes a sheet-holding or binding unit illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular by way of a preferred embodiment of the invention. The sheet-holding unit as illustrated is broadly composed of a pair of elongate flap portions 10 and 11 and a spine portion 12 therebetween which are all integrally molded of synthetic resins or other suitably resilient and relatively lightweight material. The sheet-holding unit is slitted at 13 (see also FIGS. 3A and 3B) to permit its flap portions 10 and 11 to be resiliently opened or set apart from each other upon application of manual pressure for purposes hereinafter made apparent.

A plurality of, two in this embodiment, spaced-apart concavities are formed in the internal surface of the flap portion 10 as indicated at 14 in FIG. 1, each of the cancavities 14 being stepped at 15 and increased in diameter at the inner end portion as best shown in FIG. 33. On the external surface of the flap portion 10 there are integrally formed a plurality of, three in this embodiment, spaced-apart bosses as indicated at 16 in FIG. 2, each of the bosses 16 being flanged at its top 17 as best shown in FIG. 3A.

Convexities 18 corresponding to the aforesaid concavities 14 are formed on posts 19 extending upwardly from the internal surface of the other flap portion 11. Each of these convexities 18 is stepped at 20 to define a flanged and generally roundheaded top 21 and is further slotted longitudinally as indicated at 22 in FIG. 3B. Slots or grooves 23 to receive the bosses 16 formed on another sheet-holding unit or on an adapter unit hereinafter described in detail are formed in the external surface of the flap portion 11. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3A, each of these grooves 23 is formed with a substantially U-shaped seat 24 for engagement with the flanged top 17 of each of the bosses 16.

For use, the flap portions 10 and 11 of the sheetholding unit are manually opened relative to each other as in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the posts 19 are inserted into perforations formed along one side of a number of leaves or sheets 25 which are cut to size to fit from and back covers 26 and 27 of any suitable material. The convexities 18 on the posts 19 are then inserted into the concavities 14. The flanged tops 21 of the convexities 18 will be resiliently admitted through the smaller diameter portions of the concavities 14 thanks to the provision of the slots 22, and the steps 20 of the former will then be engaged by the steps 15 of the latter, so that the sheets 25 are now securely held between the flap portions 10 and 11 of the sheet-holding unit.

Although this sheet-holding unit with its sheets 25 can be singly secured between the front and back covers 26 and 27, it is also possible according to this invention to secure two or more such sheet-holding units therebetween. In order to bind two separate groups of sheets 25, as illustrated purely by way of example in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the other group of sheets is first similarly secured between the flap portions 10 and 11 of another sheet-holding unit of exactly the same construction. The bosses 16 on one of the sheet-holding units are then inserted into the corresponding grooves 23 on the other sheet-holding unit and are moved longitudinally of the grooves 23 to cause their flanged tops 17 to be engaged by the substantially U-shaped seats 24 of the grooves 23.

In order to removably secure these interconnected sheet-holding units between the front and .back covers 26 and 27, an adapter unit 28 having flanged bosses 16 formed thereon like those on the external surface of the flap portion of each sheet-holding unit is suitably affixed along one side of, for example, the cover 27, and another adapted unit 29 in which are formed slots or groove 23 each having a substantially U-shaped seat 24 like those on the external surface of the flap portion 11 is similarly affixed along one side of, for example, the cover 26, as best illustrated in FIG. 3A. By engaging the flanged bosses 16 on the interconnected sheet-holding units by the seats 24 in the grooves 23 of the adapted unit 29, and by engaging the flanged bosses 16 on the adapted unit 28 by the seats 24 in the grooves 23 of the interconnected sheet-holding units as seen in FIG. 3A, the two separate groups of sheets 25 held in their respective sheet-holding units can be removably secured between the front and back covers 26 and 27.

It will be understood that the sheet-holding units are readily detachable from between the covers 26 and 27 either individually or altogether. Further, in the preferred embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, the flap portions 10 and 11 of each sheet-holding unit are provided with integral extensions at 30 and 31 which are yieldably flexed toward each other to securely hold the sheets 25 therebetween. Furthermore, at least the side portion 32 of the sheets 25 at which they are bound together as above stated may be made of sufficiently strong and resilient material so as to withstand repeated folding and unfolding operations of the sheets that may be necessary during use of this binder.

While it will be apparent that the various explicitly stated and implicitly suggested objects of thepresent invention are fully accomplished by the preferred embodiment shown and described hereinbefore, it will also be appreciated that the invention itself is susceptible to many modifications, substitutions and changes without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the appended claims. For example, it will be readily contemplated by the specialists to use the spine portion 12 of each sheet-holding unit as a shelfback, making possible for the user to mark thereon the contents of the particular sheet-holding unit or of the entire binder, perhaps together with other pertinent information.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for holding together a number of sheetlike objects, comprising:

a pair of separately formed covers;

at least one sheet-holding unit made of comparatively resilient material and adapted to be removably secured between said covers, said sheet-holding unit comprising an elongate sping portion, a pair of flap portions extending substantially parallel to each other from both sides of said spine portion, a plurality of spaced-apart posts formed on the internal surface of one of said flap portions to be inserted into perforations formed along one side of said sheetlike objects, a plurality of first spaced-apart projections on the internal surface of one of said flap portions, a plurality of first spaced-apart depressions on the internal surface of the other of said flap portions capable of engaging said first projections, a plurality of second spaced-apart projections on the external surface of one of said flap portions, and a plurality of second spaced-apart depressions on the external surface of the other of said flap portions;

first adapted unit fixedly provided along one edge of the internal surface of one of said covers and having a plurality of spaced-apart projections identical with said second projections on the external surface of said one of said flap portions capable of being releasably engaged by said second depressions on the external surface of said other of said flap portions; and

second adapter unit fixedly provided along one edge of the internal surface of the other of said covers and having a plurality of spaced-apart depressions identical with said second depressions on the external surface of said other of said flap portions capable of releasably engaging said second projections on the external surface of said one of said flap portions.

2. The device according to claim 1, in which a slit is formed between said spine portion and each of said flap portions to permit said flap portions to be resiliently opened relative to each other.

3. The device according to claim 1, in which each of said first projections is formed on the top of each of said posts.

4. The device'according to claim 1, in which the top portion of each of said first projections is slightly expanded to form a flange, and in which the inner end portion of each of said first depressions is correspondingly expanded to accommodate said flange.

5. The device according to claim 4, in which a slot is formed longitudinally of each of said first projections to permit said flange thereof to be inserted into each of said first depressions.

6. The device according to claim 1, in which the top portion of each of said second projections on the external surface of said one of said flap portions and of each of said projections on said first adapter unit is expanded to form a flange, and in which each of said second depressions on the external surface of said other of said flap portions and of said depressions on said second adapter unit is in the form of a groove having a substantially U-shaped seat at one end thereof for securely engaging said flange.

7. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of expansions formed respectively at the free sides of said flap portions, said expansions being yieldably flexed toward each other to securely hold said sheetlike objects therebetween.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION October 50,l973

7 Patent No. 37688)8 Dated lnventofls) RYOJI SHIBATA It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet insert 1'50] Foreign Application Priority Data Japan October 9,1971 l-6-92Q -l-7.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of August 197A.

(SEAL) Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN McCOY M. GIBSON, JR. Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-105O (10-69) w uvs. sovnunzur rnm'nus cry-0c: u" o-du-su. 

1. A device for holding together a number of sheetlike objects, comprising: a pair of separately formed covers; at least one sheet-holding unit made of comparatively resilient material and adapted to be removably secured between said covers, said sheet-holding unit comprising an elongate sping portion, a pair of flap portions extending substantially parallel to each other from both sides of said spine portion, a plurality of spaced-apart posts formed on the internal surface of one of said flap portions to be inserted into perforations formed along one side of said sheetlike objects, a plurality of first spaced-apart projections on the internal surface of one of said flap portions, a plurality of first spaced-apart depressions on the internal surface of the other of said flap portions capable of engaging said first projections, a plurality of second spaced-apart projections on the external surface of one of said flap portions, and a plurality of second spaced-apart depressions on the external surface of the other of said flap portions; a first adapted unit fixedly provided along one edge of the internal surface of one of said covers and having a plurality of spaced-apart projections identical with said second projections on the external surface of said one of said flap portions capable of being releasably engaged by said second depressions on the external surface of said other of said flap portions; and a second adapter unit fixedly provided along one edge of the internal surface of the other of said covers and having a plurality of spaced-apart depressions identical with said second depressions on the external surfAce of said other of said flap portions capable of releasably engaging said second projections on the external surface of said one of said flap portions.
 2. The device according to claim 1, in which a slit is formed between said spine portion and each of said flap portions to permit said flap portions to be resiliently opened relative to each other.
 3. The device according to claim 1, in which each of said first projections is formed on the top of each of said posts.
 4. The device according to claim 1, in which the top portion of each of said first projections is slightly expanded to form a flange, and in which the inner end portion of each of said first depressions is correspondingly expanded to accommodate said flange.
 5. The device according to claim 4, in which a slot is formed longitudinally of each of said first projections to permit said flange thereof to be inserted into each of said first depressions.
 6. The device according to claim 1, in which the top portion of each of said second projections on the external surface of said one of said flap portions and of each of said projections on said first adapter unit is expanded to form a flange, and in which each of said second depressions on the external surface of said other of said flap portions and of said depressions on said second adapter unit is in the form of a groove having a substantially U-shaped seat at one end thereof for securely engaging said flange.
 7. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of expansions formed respectively at the free sides of said flap portions, said expansions being yieldably flexed toward each other to securely hold said sheetlike objects therebetween. 